HOUSTON -- Astros pitcher Alex White is bracing himself for the idea he could be headed for Tommy John surgery and a long recovery to get back on the mound.

The right-hander, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list earlier this week with an elbow sprain, is seeking a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, who's reviewing White's MRI results. The team expects a decision about White's future soon.

"We have a pretty good idea what's going to happen, and we're just waiting for Andrews to take a look and make a decision for us," White said. "I've gotten used to the idea, and it's going to be a long process getting back to the field. It will be day to day, and even if it's just a sprain, it's still going to take me a while to get back."

White has already reached out to teammates Philip Humber and Erik Bedard, both of whom have been through Tommy John surgery before. It's typically a one-year recovery process, but many pitchers come back even stronger following the procedure.

"We talked about the process and coming back and being patient," White said. "When and if that decision is made, it will be a long process, but hopefully it's early enough in the year we'll be back by next season."

White, acquired from the Rockies in January in exchange for Wilton Lopez, said he's been dealing with an elbow issue for a long time.

"This spring, I felt good early. And later in the spring, it started coming on a little bit. And the last couple of outings were pretty bad," he said. "I felt like could get through them during the season, but it's one of those things that never got better."